Condoleezza Rice: Ftour, Flower, and Sahara

207

September 19, 2008

Published in Telquel
(Morocco) on September 13-19, 2008
by (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Jessica Tesoriero. Edited by .

The plane was two hours late, September 6, on the tarmac in Rabat, when the American Secretary of State arrived.

Condoleezza Rice had taken the first bites of the ftour in Algeria with President Bouteflika. She had barely tasted the main course by the time she was sharing dinner with [Moroccan Prime Minister] Abbas El Fassi and his counterpart [Foreign Minister] Taïb Fassi Fihri.

Also on the menu for her visit: the Sahara. "There are good ideas on the table and the means to achieve them," she said, adding, "We are looking for a mutually acceptable solution."

Condoleezza Rice finished her tour of the Maghreb Sunday, digesting the Lenôtre chocolates offered to her by Mohammed VI. Small consolation for having had to leave the five-meter bouquet of flowers the King had her wear. It was too bulky for the plane.

Ftour, Fleur et Sahara

Lavion avait deux heures de retard, samedi 6 septembre sur le tarmac de Rabat quand la secrétaire dEtat américaine est arrivée. Condoleezza Rice avait pris les premières bouchées du ftour à lAlger avec le président Bouteflika. Elle na donc gouté quau plat principal lors du diner partagé avec Abbas El Fassi et son homologue Taïb Fassi Fihri. Au menu également de sa visite, le Sahara. « Il y a de bonnes idées sur la table et des moyens daller de lavant », a-t-elle indiqué, ajoutant : « Nous recherchons une solution mutuellement acceptable ». Condoleezza Rice a fini sa tournée au Maghreb dimanche, dégustant les chocolats Lenôtre offerts par Mohammed VI. Petite consolation pour avoir dû laisser le bouquet de fleurs 5 mètres que lui avait fait porter le roi. Il était trop volumineux pour lavion.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Tags:
Morocco

Hot this week

Block title

Saudi Arabia: From Saddam to Maduro

January 10, 2026. Published in Arab News

Defiant leaders would do well to learn from what happened in Caracas — be careful, Trump is in search of victories.

Kenya: US Onslaught on Venezuela Targets Its Large Oil Resources

January 7, 2026. Published in The Standard

Austria: Trump’s 28-Point Plan Is the Original Sin of Current Diplomacy on Ukraine

January 10, 2026. Published in Der Standard

[N]egotiations to end the bloodshed in Ukraine have recently gained momentum. However, tangible results are not in sight.

South Africa: Venezuela Will Once Again Expose Flaws in UN Security Council

January 10, 2026. Published in Cape Times

Venezuela is likely to become another wasted crisis, resembling events that followed when the U.S. forced regime changes in Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Saudi Arabia: Venezuela: Blunt Reality…With No Pretexts or Excuses

January 10, 2026. Published in Asharq Al-Awsat

We are faced with a "scenario" in which Washington's exclusive and absolute dominance over the entire hemisphere, from Greenland and Canada in the north to the southern reaches of Argentina and Chile.

Topics

Germany: Trump’s Audacious Show of Strength*

January 10, 2026. Published in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

By any measure, the brief, yet highly effective U.S. operation in Venezuela was an audacious act.

Spain: What’s Dying in Caracas

January 10, 2026. Published in El País

When the hegemon leaves legitimacy behind, only strength remains. And that ... is not a sign of power.

Austria: Trump’s 28-Point Plan Is the Original Sin of Current Diplomacy on Ukraine

January 10, 2026. Published in Der Standard

[N]egotiations to end the bloodshed in Ukraine have recently gained momentum. However, tangible results are not in sight.

Poland: Attack on Venezuela. Donald Trump Crosses the Rubicon

January 10, 2026. Published in Rzeczpospolita

Trump might triumph in Venezuela. He may also come to greatly regret his decision.

Japan: Attack on Venezuela: An Outrage That Tramples on Legal Order

January 10, 2026. Published in Tokyo Shimbun

[T]here can be no justification for arbitrarily attacking a sovereign nation and capturing a leader.

South Africa: Venezuela Will Once Again Expose Flaws in UN Security Council

January 10, 2026. Published in Cape Times

Venezuela is likely to become another wasted crisis, resembling events that followed when the U.S. forced regime changes in Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq.